The Ten Most Unlikely Performance Cars

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Just because it doesn't look like a Ferrari, doesn't mean it won't smoke one.


10.) Chevrolet Cobalt SS

While European hot hatches might be nicer cars all around, the Cobalt SS offered surprising speed for not much money. The turbo version is a future classic for a reason.

Suggested By: Chairman Kaga


9.) Ford Flex Ecoboost

It's got a turbo and all-wheel drive, plus all the space you'll ever need. Basically, it's a Taurus SHO that never got taken out of the box. Wes-Mantooth:

0-60: 5.7s. Hauls my family & my stuff...LOVE this wagon! No one expects this thing to launch like it does off the line.

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Suggested By: MontegoMan562


8.) Audi S8

An Audi R8 V10 plus can reach 62 mph in 3.3 seconds. This huge sedan? 3.5.

Really.

Suggested By: sm70- why not Duesenberg?


7.) Volvo 850 T5-R

With up to 250 horsepower, this is what Audi was looking at before creating the B5 Audi RS 4 Avant Quattro. We're glad to see Volvo back at it.

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Suggested By: Automatch Tom


6.) Toyota Corolla AE86

A freakin' Corolla as one of the best drift cars? The short answer is yes, and that doesn't even cover the car's rally or road racing successes over the years.

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Suggested By: ReverendDexter


5.) Tesla Model S

Unlike your milk float, this accelerates to 62 faster than a BMW M5. Holy Nikola! AmericanMagpie:

I got to drive one and, after the owner encouraged me to not hold back, I was shocked at how willing it was to keep accelerating. The absolutely linear power and acceleration brought out the OHMYGOD giggles. It took me almost an hour to stop grinning like an idiot.

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Suggested By: Kate's Dirty Sister


4.) Plymouth Belvedere Hemi Wagon

Filipe! svenskfox's grandma is faster than you!

My grandmother once special-ordered a Plymouth Belvedere wagon with a 426 cubic inch V8 and a manual gearbox. It was pale yellow and she called it "daffodil." It's weird when your grandmother is more Jalop than you are...

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Suggested By: svenskfox


3.) Renault Clio V6

Most carmakers would've stopped at something like the hot, conventional Williams Clio. Not Renault. They pulled the little four up front and stuck a V6 behind the driver's seat.

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Suggested By: burglar can't heart click anything


2.) Mercedes-Benz G65 AMG

It's a military vehicle from the early seventies sold in 2014 with a twin-turbo V12 producing 612 horsepower. Everything about it is nuts.

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Suggested By: J-Tenno


1.) Buick Regal Grand National

Buick had to lie about how much power the Grand National and its ultra-tuned GNX version made to keep it from outdoing the period Corvette. Only came in black. Not your average pensioner's car.

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Suggested By: deekster_caddy

Welcome back to Answers of the Day - our daily Jalopnik feature where we take the best ten responses from the previous day's Question of the Day and shine it up to show off. It's by you and for you, the Jalopnik readers. Enjoy!

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Top Photo Credit: mnauto455